Ex-RIBA regional director admits stealing from institute coffers

Jon Jo MacNamara, the RIBA’s former regional director in the North-East, is facing jail after pleading guilty to stealing from the institute

MacNamara, 33, previously of Jesmond, Newcastle, admitted a single charge of ‘theft by an employee’ at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this month (7 February).

The former Conservative councillor in North Tyneside was fired by the RIBA last April (see below) for gross misconduct involving ‘several instances of fraud’.

An RIBA disciplinary panel dismissed MacNamara after financial irregularities came to light during a routine check.

Accordng to reports in the local newspaper The Journal, he admitted stealing £6,743 in cash from the institute between December 2010 and July last year.

Speaking at the time of the dismisal last April an RIBA spokesman said: ‘A thorough internal investigation uncovered several instances of fraud and financial irregularity over the past 12 months. We are in the process of reimbursing individuals and organisations who were affected by Jon Jo’s actions.’

MacNamara is due to be sentenced on 18 March where full details of the offending will be revealed.

Previous story (AJ 19.04.2012)

RIBA regional director fired amid fraud allegations

Jon Jo MacNamara, the RIBA’s regional director in the North East, has been fired for gross misconduct involving ‘several instances of fraud’ totalling nearly £10,000

The police are also carrying out an investigation into the activities of the 33-year-old, who had also been due to stand for the Conservative Party in Newcastle in May’s local elections. He has since resigned from the party.

MacNamara was dismissed by a formal disciplinary panel of the RIBA after a number of irregularities came to light following a routine financial check-up.

A spokesman said: ‘A thorough internal investigation uncovered several instances of fraud and financial irregularity over the past 12 months amounting to nearly £10,000. We are in the process of reimbursing individuals and organisations who were affected by Jon Jo’s actions.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: ‘We have received a report of suspected fraud and are carrying out enquiries to establish whether any offences have been committed.’

It is understood no other RIBA employees were involved.

Senior RIBA insiders said they were ‘shocked’ by the news and local practices have also expressed their surprise.

Subscribe to the AJ

The Architects’ Journal is the UK’s best-selling weekly architecture magazine and is the voice of architecture in Britain

About the Architects' Journal

The Architects' Journal is the voice of architecture in Britain. We sit at the heart of the debate about British architecture and British cities, and form opinions across the whole construction industry on design-related matters